Reviewing the BBV catalogue

[Ludders II]

Mar 14, 2024 11:01:14 GMT burrunjor said:

Mar 14, 2024 1:24:28 GMT rushy said:

I find it hilarious that everyone - Gatiss, Briggs, the cast - have collectively left Bill Baggs behind.

This is quite an interesting video that covers the stranger as well as a lot of the early 90s projects. It also explains what happened to Baggs, he basically pissed the BBC off and wound everybody up from Colin to Sophie to Nick Briggs in various ways, like not paying them, being a diva on set, and he's also been into some really weird shit since, all of which have made him a pariah in fandom. 

Thanks for that.👍

[Cherry Pepsi Maxil]

Can someone tell me which production this scene is from? I REALLY like the design of the room.

[burrunjor]

Mar 14, 2024 11:11:25 GMT Cherry Pepsi Maxil said:

Can someone tell me which production this scene is from? I REALLY like the design of the room.

LOL I'm pretty sure it is Airzone Solution where she and Colin shag each other. 

Colin seemed to get the babes in the BBV films, as he also has a scene with Sophie. 

[Ludders II]

Mar 14, 2024 11:11:25 GMT Cherry Pepsi Maxil said:

Can someone tell me which production this scene is from? I REALLY like the design of the room.

It's not Who related.
Can't remember exactly, but it's from a movie or a TV drama or something.

[burrunjor]

My favourite role of hers outside Who was in Blackadder when she was the annoying god daughter. Her laugh was so obnoxious and the final bit where he insults her and then she does that awful, shrill cry always makes me laugh.

[Deleted]

The most important lesson you can learn from all this is that names don't guarantee quality...

[cyberhat]

Mar 14, 2024 11:11:25 GMT Cherry Pepsi Maxil said:

Can someone tell me which production this scene is from? I REALLY like the design of the room.

It's from Parting Shots, a Michael Winner film. Chris Rea then tells her not to take her bra off!! From memory, I think Peter Davison is in the following scene.

[Deleted]

Just saw Westlake's Deconstruction (thank you ludders for sharing the file). God that was awful. Somehow the BBV productions possess a trashy charm that the others just don't. I would applaud Deconstruction's attempts at artistry but for the fact that it gets so much wrong. First, it's shot on like a Tesco camcorder or something, the black-and-white is really badly balanced (too many flat mids, not enough contrast to keep it interesting), and plot-wise, it is just atrocious. The twists are completely unearned and the final reveal was nothing short of embarrassing. Also, when you have something like this, you'd be better off not showing the Cybermen until at least halfway through, but they're everywhere in this. No suspense whatsoever. It actually disturbs me that people can be incompetent to this degree.

[Ludders II]

Mar 14, 2024 16:40:06 GMT @theyakemperor said:

Just saw Westlake's Deconstruction (thank you ludders for sharing the file). God that was awful. Somehow the BBV productions possess a trashy charm that the others just don't. I would applaud Deconstruction's attempts at artistry but for the fact that it gets so much wrong. First, it's shot on like a Tesco camcorder or something, the black-and-white is really badly balanced (too many flat mids, not enough contrast to keep it interesting), and plot-wise, it is just atrocious. The twists are completely unearned and the final reveal was nothing short of embarrassing. Also, when you have something like this, you'd be better off not showing the Cybermen until at least halfway through, but they're everywhere in this. No suspense whatsoever. It actually disturbs me that people can be incompetent to this degree.

I haven't rewatched that one for years. I remember it for at least having a bit of atmosphere to it, (probably because it's in black and white) but must admit I remember nothing of any plot. I don't recall it even having a plot. Lol
Will have another look at it tomorrow.
I don't think it was ever commercially released though, so it's definitely just a fan film that probably wasn't trying to pretend to be professional.

[Brian MK.II]

I rate Deconstruction highly myself and would even say it's my favourite of the BBV/Reeltime/Westlake catalogue. The final twist is shit and the score is straight out of a shitty 2000s nightclub but the cold clinical atmosphere and depiction of the Cybermen is excellent. (If you want shit knockoff Cybermen, look no further than Cyberon) 

It was supposedly originally meant to feature the 80s Cybermen but the costumes were unavailable and they got the Moonbase/Tomb costumes in at the last minute. You can see the 80s influence is still there with the tone and story which feels like a Saward script and the Cybermen being a more militaristic force but somehow the 60s versions work here and manage to recreate their creepy effect.

[Deleted]

Mar 14, 2024 17:19:26 GMT Brian MK.II said:

I rate Deconstruction highly myself and would even say it's my favourite of the BBV/Reeltime/Westlake catalogue. The final twist is shit and the score is straight out of a shitty 2000s nightclub but the cold clinical atmosphere and depiction of the Cybermen is excellent. (If you want shit knockoff Cybermen, look no further than Cyberon) 

It was supposedly originally meant to feature the 80s Cybermen but the costumes were unavailable and they got the Moonbase/Tomb costumes in at the last minute. You can see the 80s influence is still there with the tone and story which feels like a Saward script and the Cybermen being a more militaristic force but somehow the 60s versions work here and manage to recreate their creepy effect.

The score is the best part lmao

[Deleted]

Do You Have a License to Save This Planet? (2001)

I was really expecting to hate this one, but it was actually a rather pleasant surprise. Sylvester McCoy is of course a delight in anything he's in, and though you can sort of tell he thinks it's all a load of nonsense, he nonetheless dials it up to 100 with his slapstick mannerisms. This is the most outwardly comedic of the BBV films, and to be fair it's not all a loss; it did actually get a few laughs out of me, but the majority is still very clearly missing the mark. But whatever, it's a not-even-30-minute short produced on a shoestring budget, I'm hardly gonna hold that against it. Besides, there is a real understated wistfulness about it, a resignation of "it's okay if it never comes back", further enhanced by the retread of McCoy's final monologue. It is without the angst and fervour of earlier productions that were obviously marred with the bitterness of the show's cancellation. But here, there is an air of acceptance about it all. BBV had all but fractured apart by this point, and the direct-to-video market wasn't really going anywhere and seemed less of a viable option for the show's return. The licensing thing was heavy-handed, sure, but there's a nice angle with the "Cyberons" and the idea of the BBC being reticent with its licensing of characters despite the fact that the show wasn't even on the air and perhaps never would be again; "if you're not gonna use it then why can't we?" sort of thing. The camerawork, direction, special effects are all crap, right out of an obscure porno, but I guess that adds to the charm. The overcast residential street that seems to be at once suburban and in the middle of nowhere is quite an arresting setting to be fair. I'd probably give this a 6/10.

[Ludders II]

Mar 21, 2024 20:38:15 GMT @theyakemperor said:

Do You Have a License to Save This Planet? (2001)

I was really expecting to hate this one, but it was actually a rather pleasant surprise. Sylvester McCoy is of course a delight in anything he's in, and though you can sort of tell he thinks it's all a load of nonsense, he nonetheless dials it up to 100 with his slapstick mannerisms. This is the most outwardly comedic of the BBV films, and to be fair it's not all a loss; it did actually get a few laughs out of me, but the majority is still very clearly missing the mark. But whatever, it's a not-even-30-minute short produced on a shoestring budget, I'm hardly gonna hold that against it. Besides, there is a real understated wistfulness about it, a resignation of "it's okay if it never comes back", further enhanced by the retread of McCoy's final monologue. It is without the angst and fervour of earlier productions that were obviously marred with the bitterness of the show's cancellation. But here, there is an air of acceptance about it all. BBV had all but fractured apart by this point, and the direct-to-video market wasn't really going anywhere and seemed less of a viable option for the show's return. The licensing thing was heavy-handed, sure, but there's a nice angle with the "Cyberons" and the idea of the BBC being reticent with its licensing of characters despite the fact that the show wasn't even on the air and perhaps never would be again; "if you're not gonna use it then why can't we?" sort of thing. The camerawork, direction, special effects are all crap, right out of an obscure porno, but I guess that adds to the charm. The overcast residential street that seems to be at once suburban and in the middle of nowhere is quite an arresting setting to be fair. I'd probably give this a 6/10.

I only acquired this one recently, so I haven't yet watched it myself.
It didn't look much when I had a quick look.

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2024 4:29:03 GMT Ludders II said:

Mar 21, 2024 20:38:15 GMT @theyakemperor said:

I only acquired this one recently, so I haven't yet watched it myself.
It didn't look much when I had a quick look.

None of them look much lmao

[Ludders II]

Found this pretty interesting interview with Bill Baggs that I've never seen before.